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MANCHESTER, England: Thierry Lincou's bid to prove that he is still good enough at the age of 32 to win back the World Open title made an encouraging start on Monday.
The former world number one from France, who is seeded sixth, produced a devastating finish against Amr Swelim, the rising world number 42 from Egypt, to win 6-11, 11-3, 11-1, 11-1.
Although Lincou was unable to achieve one of his aims, to start his matches more quickly more often, thus avoiding early deficits and economising on energy, he was very impressive once he got into his stride.
The Marseille-based Reunion Islander took charge of the centre of the court so utterly, taking the ball early and pushing Swelim around, so that what had begun as though it would be a tough match lasted only 36 minutes.
"I am trying to be a bit more attacking, trying to conclude points better. I've been working on the final part of the rallies I've been trying to work on the finish," said Lincou, who says he feels in such good shape that he hopes he may play two or three more World Opens before retiring.
He certainly finished rallies well enough in the last two games to feel he has still preserved his legs sufficiently to make further progress on Tuesday - even though he will have to deal with a surprising and potentially dangerous opponent.
Instead of facing Renan Lavigne, his fellow Frenchman from Marseille, in the expected repeat of the French national final, Lincou will meet Mohammed El Shorbagy, the world junior champion from Egypt, who is only a qualifier but who triumphed 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8.
If Lincou does get past the colourfully attacking 17-year-old, he could play Ong Beng Hee, the tenth seed from Malaysia, for the chance to tackle Amr Shabana, the top-seeded titleholder from Egypt in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Like Lincou, Shabana also started slowly, losing the first game to Simon Rosner of Germany before winning 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5, and showing patches of the magic which he hopes will make him only the fourth player ever to win four World Opens - following legendary Pakistanis Jansher and Jahangir Khan and the great Australian Geoff Hunt.
First round results:
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Rafael Alarcom (BRA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Julien Belbo (FRA) 9-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-7
Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-7, 12-14, 11-3, 11-3
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6
Peter Barker (ENG) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-4, 11-5, 11-1
Thierry Lincou (FRA) by Amr Swelim (EGY) 6-11, 11-3, 11-1, 11-1
Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 12-10
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-5, 11-6, 12-10
Hisham Ashour (EGY) bt Chris Ryder (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-5
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8
Mohammed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Renan Lavigne (FRA) 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Artureo Salazar (MEX) 11-4, 11-4, retired
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-4, 11-0, 11-1
Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 12-10, 11-5, 13-11
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 14-12, 13-10, 6-11, 11-7
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 14-12, 11-1, 11-3
David Palmer (AUS) bt Mark Krajcsak (CZE) 11-2, 11-8, 11-2
Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Robbie Phillips (AUS) 11-6, 11-1, 11-3
John White (SCO) bt Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 13-11, 11-6, 11-2
- AFP/de
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